1995 Mercedes Benz C220

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, LUNGED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAS VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED, APPARENTLY FROM THE (NORMAL) HEAT OF THE ENGINE. THE INSULATION LITERALLY FLAKES AWAY IN MY HAND WHEN BEING HANDLED EVEN WITH THE MOST GENTLE TOUCH. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IS $600+ FOR ONLY THE PART; THE COST OF INSTALLATION IS ALSO IN EXCESS OF $500, THUS COSTING OVER $1,000. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE! THE DETERIORATED INSULATION CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUITS, CAUSED MY CAR TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (ON THE EXPRESSWAY), THEN AFTER I PULLED OFF AT THE EXIT, SMOKING (ELECTRICAL FIRE) FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FACT IS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION/COVERS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *JB

WHEN I BOUGHT MY 1995 MERCEDES C220 FROM THE MERCEDES DEALER, THEY KNEW WHAT I FOUND OUT AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR THAT 1995 MERCEDES C220'S HAVE A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN FOR OVER 30 YEARS NOW AND I KNOW WHAT FAULTY INSULATION LOOKS LIKE, THE INSULATION IS BRITTLE, CRACKING AND FALLING OFF THE CONDUCTORS.. AND WITH MY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING BACKGROUND THE ENGINE HARNESS WOULD ONLY COST MERCEDES A FEW DOLLARS TO MANUFACTURE. ( UNDER $20.00 USD ) IS IT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR HAVING INTERMITTENT ABS SYSTEM? INTERMITTENT TEMP AND FUEL GAUGES AND SPEEDOMETER? CLEARLY THERE MUST BE A SET STANDARD FOR THE INSULATION USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AUTOMOBILES, AND CLEARLY THE ORIGINAL INSULATION USED IN PRODUCTION DID NOT,AND WOULD NOT PASS.. *JB

COMPLETE FAILURE OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DUE TO PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF WIRE INSULATION. GARAGED CAR WOULD START AND RUN NORMALLY FOR SHORT (TEN MINUTE) TRIPS BUT WOULD NOT START UP TO RETURN HOME. STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIPS PERIODICALLY. STALLING AND SURGING COMMON. INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRUMBLING AND CRACKED WIRE INSULATION ON WIRING HARNESS. CAR WILL NO LONGER START AT ALL. I HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIX WHAT APPEARS NOW TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND I AM VERY UPSET THAT SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORILY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *NM